Organ key-action.



No. sm s. v PATENTED APR.16, 1907.

J. BINNIG. ORGAN KBYAC'I3ON. APPLIOATION PILED MAR.10, 1996.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEU'ECEG JACOB BINNIG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MASON & HAMLlN COMPANY, OF CAh LBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

ORGN KEY=ATHON.

Ne. e5o,413.

Specification of Letters Patenta.

Eatented April 16, 1907.

Ap li ati fil d March 10, 1906. Serial Ne. {305,209.

`ment in Organ Key-Actions, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyng drawmgs, s a specfication,

like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel key-action for an organ which is so constructed as to render the operation thereoi very delicate. This result is secured by roviding means whereby the valve contro ling the supply from the wind-chest will close, thereby causing the pipe to cease speaking as soon as the pressure on the key is relieved and during the first part of the upward movement of the outer end thereof.

In all organ-actions with which I am ia miliar the construction is such that a pipe Will not cease speaking until the key has nearly resumed its initial position, and the result of this Construction is that it is not possible to make the same pipe speak rapidly at extremely short intervals of time without having the separate sounds run together. This is overcome with my invention because as soon as the key is released and before the outer end completes its Upward movement the pipe will cease speaking, and the key may be rapidly operated, thereiore, to cause a plurality of rapid stacoato notes without any blending` of the successivenotes.

I have herein shown my invention as embodied in a meohanical key-action-that is, one in which the key is connected to the valve by a mechanical connection which is adapted to transmit the motion of the key to the valve and in applying` my invention to this type of key-action the mechanical connection between the key and valve is provided with a lost-motion device, which preferably is a friotional device, the iriction of which is suflicient to cause the valve to move with the key during the 'first part of the movement thereot from the abnormal or playing position of the key (that is, the position ot the key when the outer end is depressed) to the normal position, (that is, the position of the key when the outer end is elevated,) said relative to the valve after the latter has been shi'fted and during the final-movement of the key. In the preferr'ed embodiment of my invention this 'friction device is so Constructed that the valve will move with the key during the first part of the movement thereof in `either direction, said iriction device permitting the key to move relative to the valve after the latter has been shitted and during the final movement of the key in either direction.

I will 'first describe one embodiment of my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a key-action embodying` my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line x, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a view showing the key fully depressed.

In the drawings, 3 designates the key of an organ; &thewind-chest; 5, theductleadingto the primary or other pneumatic tor Operating the pipe-valve, and 6 and 7 the two valves which control the communication between the wind-chest and the duct 5. 'i hese parts may have any suitable or usual construction and 'form no part of my present invention. As herein shown, the valves 6 and 7 are mounted on a valve-stern 8, and the valve 6 is adapted to close a port 9, leading into the wind-chest 4, and the valve 7 to close a port 10, leading to the atmosphere.

When the key is in its normal position, the valve 9 is closed; but when the key is depressed or moved into its playing position for sounding a note said valve is opened and the valve 7 closed, thereby opening communication between the wind-chest and the pneumatic. It is obvious that the note will not be sounded untilthe valve 9 is opened and the valve 7 closed, and in order to make the key-action a delicate one and one which can be rapidly operated I have provided means Whereby the valve controlling the supply of wind from the wind-chest will be closed dur in; the firstpart of the upward movement of the key-that is, the movement from the playing position to the normal or initial position-the valve being completely closed before the key has reached its normal or initial position. The means above described are also preferably so oonstructed that said valve Will be opened during the first part of the friction device permitting the key to move 1 downward movement of the key and before IOO the key has been depressed to its lowest position. The means l have herein illustrated for accomplishing this object comprises two frictionally connected members, through which movement is transmitted to the valve. These two members are so connected that they move together during the lirst part of the movement of the li y, and the l'riction between them is sullicient to shii't the valve. The key has a movement greater than is necessary to compietely shil't the valve, and after the valve has been l'uly shil tcd during' the first part of the movement o'l' the key the remainder of the movement of the key is permitted by the slipping of the two l'rictionallyconnected members on each other.

In the ernbodiment of the invention herein illustrated one of the 'l'rictionallyconnected members is the stem 5 ol the valve, and the other of the i'rictionally-connecte(l members may either be the key or an actuator, the latter arrangement being; shown in the drawings. The actuator is d esignated by 12, and it is pivoted at one end to a 'fixed support, as at 13, and at the other end carries an adjustable button 14 to be engaged by the inner end of the key 3. .A spring' 15, actin: on the up per side of the actuater, tends to return the key to its normal position and to close the valve 6. The necessary frictional connection between the valveactuator and the valve-stern is in this embodiment provided 'for byproviding the actuator with a reeess 16, one side oi which is covered by a l rictionalpad 17, against which the valve-stern S rests. Said valve-stem is i'rietionally held against this friction-p ad by means ot a yieldingly-mo unted frictional pad 19, which is shown as received in the recess 16 and as being yieldinly held against the valve-stem S by means ol? a spring or other resilient member 20. The said valve-stem is provided with two adjustable buttons 21 and 22, which serve to keep the valve-stem properly positioned with reference to the actuator. The l riction between the valve-stem and the actuator is sul hcient to cause the valves to be shitted by the initial movement ol' the actuator, while allowing' the actuator to move relatively to the valvestem after the valves have been shitted.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing. The parts are shown in full lines in Fig. 1 in their normal position. Nhen the key 3 is depressed for sounding a note or moved into its playing position, the inner end thereof is elevated, thereby Jifting the valve-actuator 12. Owing to the trictional engagement between the valve-stern and said actuator, the initial movement of the actuator shifts the valves, thereby setting' in operation the pneumatics which sound the note, and this shirting ol' the valves will occur during the first part of the downward movement of the outer end of the key, or its movement from the full to the dotted line &50,413

position, Fig. 1. 'It requires, however, a comparatively sl''ht movement ol the key to completely shil t the valve-s, and as the key is further depressed the actuator will slide on the valve-stern and assume the position shown in F g 2. As soon as the key is released the initial movement of the actuator will owing to its lrietonal connection with the valve-stern shi'ft the valves to close the port 9, and during' the further movement ot tl e kcy and actuator into the full-line position., 1, said actuator will slide down on the valve-stern. lt will thus be seen that the vaives are always shifted in one (hrection or the other during?) the 'lirst part of the movement of the kcy in either direction, and the result is that the note will be soundcd as soon as the key touched, and the soundwill cease soon as the key is released.

The drawin s show one embodiment ol' my invention, and as the desred connection between. the valve-stern and key 3 may be provided for in various ways l do not wish my claims to be limited 'to the particular construction heroin shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and des 'u'e to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a key-action, a key, a valve, and devices including two 'l'rictionally-connected members for transmitting the movement of the key to the valve.

2. In a key-action, a key, a valve, and devices including two lriotionally-connectcd members for transmitting the movement ol the key to the valve, said key having a greater movement than is necessary to operate the valve.

3. In a key-action, a key, a valve, and means to open the valve during the first part of the movement ol` the key in one direction, and to close the valve during the 'first part of the movement of the key in the opposite direction.

4. In a device ot the class described, in combination, a wind-chest, a valve there'l or, and a spring' pressed pivotally mounted member for actuating the valve 'frictionally connected thereto.

In a key-action in combination, a windchest, a valve therefor, a spring-pressed valve-actuator 'l rictionally connected to the valve, and a key 'for Operating the actuator in one direction.

6. In a key-action. in combination, a windchest, a valve theretor having a valve-stern, a pivotall '-mounted spring-m'essed valvoactuator trctimally connected to the valvestem, and a key tor moving the actuator in one direction.

7. in a key-action., a key, a valve operatcd thereby, said key having a greatcr move-` ment than necessary to operate the valve, and means whereby the valve s completely shrfted during the l'irst p art of the movement IOO of the key in either direction and before said key completes its movement.

8. In a key-aetion, a key, a valve-aetuator operated thereby, a valve, and conneetons,

including a frietion devee, between the valve-actuator and the valve, said freton devce Operating to Shift the valve upon the first part of the movement of the aetuator and allowing said aetuator to move relative to the valve after the valve has been shifted. 9. In a key-action, a valve having a Valvestem 8 and a valve-actuator 12 frietionally connected to the valve-stem and a key for noving the actuator.

10. In a key-action, avalve having a Valvestem 8, a valve-actuator 12 frictionallv connected to the valve-stem, said aetuator having a greater range of movement than the valve, and a key for movng the vaive-aetuator in one direction.

11. In a key-action, in combnation, a Wind-chest 4, a valve to control the supply of Wind therefrom, said valve having` a stem 8, and a pvoted devee having a fretional engagenent With said stem for aetuating the valve.

In testimony Whereof I have signed my name to this speefication in the presence of two subseribing witnesses.

JACOB BINNIG.

Witnesses:

LOUIS C. SMITH, M. A. DUNN. 

